Belarus is an independent country, Russia and Putin have nothing to do with it. It was in retaliation to the imposition of illegal sanctions on Belarus by the EU.
The only shocking behaviour is the fact they are being refused asylum at the Polish border. The refugees are Syrian and Iraqi Kurds. The EU/NATO destroyed their country with two wars. Fixing that is a EU/American responsibility.
If Belarus is an authoritarian, brutal dictatorship as then Poland is legally obliged to offer them asylum. Several Belarussian athletes have fled Belarus and applied for asylum in Poland and other eastern countries, how is this any different?
Nothing will happen to Belarus that hasn't already happened, it will be the fake countries of eastern Europe that will suffer.
This is the (un)ironic part of this whole situation. The "migrants/refugee" issue is 90% due to the NATO devastation. We saw what happened (is happening) in Libya, Gadhafi might not have been tolerant of political opposition, but he was also competent enough to provide the means to support the people. Most of the population, they only crave stability and the ability to live their daily life safely. You take that safety net away, and surprise, refugee problem.
Even if Lukashenko (or Russia) is facilitating the transport of these people to the border, he does not have the power to rip them away from their homes in the first place.
Also clever as you mention, Belarus are taking advantage of the "Safe Harbour" laws adopted by many EU countries where they are obliged to take in refugees from "dangerous" countries. If you take in Belarusian defectors, then you've basically established the precedent that Belarus is an unsafe country for all of these migrants/refugees. Whoever realized this loophole is a lawfare genius really.
*KevinSpaceyShoutingWRONG.gif*. Russia would knock the EU countries over like bowling pins without American support. With America turning more and more of its resources toward confronting China (at which America's going to fail, but that's another topic), Europe is going to be abandoned. Europe can't defend itself without America.
They're the definition of pushovers.
I don't see why you would be suggesting that Russia has any interest in starting war. Totally agree about the Baltic states though. Laughable that someone could suggest that countries with no Air Forces or MBTs could go toe to toe with Russia.
